Compliance checks or stings for underage alcohol sales are very popular. But to be legal, they must be done without entrapment. Basically, entrapment is inducing people to commit a crime they are not “predisposed” to commit. Nor would they ordinarily commit.

The Department of Justice stresses that “Entrapment is a complete defense to a criminal charge.”¹ A valid entrapment defense has two parts. First police inducement of the crime. Second, the defendant’s lack of predisposition to engage in the crime.

Even if a defendant can prove illegal inducement, proof of predisposition destroys the defense. The question is simple. Was the defendant “an unwary innocent or, instead, an unwary criminal?” So police should have evidence of predisposition before the sting.

Avoiding Illegally Entrapping the Innocent

Prosecutors want to avoid losing cases because defendants prove illegal entrapment. Therefore, the standard compliance check is to prevent entrapment. It specifies that if a cashier asks for ID, the under age person in the sting is to do these.

1. 1. Immediately stop trying to buy alcohol.
   2. Leave the premises.

The under-ager in the sting is not to do any of these.

1. 1. Give a false ID card.
   2. Give an excuse for not having an ID.
   3. Present an ID showing the correct age.
   4. Otherwise try to obtain an illegal sale.

Effectiveness of Stings

Because of legal requirements, stings aren’t as successful as we might hope. That’s because clerks quickly learn how to avoid a sting. At the same time, under age purchasers learn how to prove to clerks that they are not part of a sting.

So an underage buyer need only make an excuse for not having one. Or even present his or her own I.D. Then the clerk knows that the sale can safely be made. That’s because the purchaser isn’t involved in a sting.

Some police are even guilty of illegal stings. For example, they may allow the under age person to persist.

But underage buyers and clerks quickly become aware of what is locally done in stings. So they adjust their actions.

Stings are Popular

In spite of their low effectiveness, stings are popular. They satisfy several desires.

• • Public desire to “clamp down.”
  • Police desire to show it’s taking action. (This also gets public and tax support.)
  • Parental desires for helping “control” and protect their young people.

Of course, what they don’t do is reduce illegal sales very well.

Other Ways to Reduce Abuse

In fact, there are effective and inexpensive way to reduce the abuse of alcohol by young people. Here are several.

• • Underage Drinking Problems. What Works.  
  • Reduce Underage Alcohol Abuse In Creative Ways.
  • Underage Drinking Problem Prevention.  
  • Preventing Underage Drinking Problems.

Notes

• • At this point, you know much more about stings for underage alcohol sales than most people. So kudos! 
  • This site does not give advice, legal or not. For legal advice, always see a  lawyer.